Page 41 of Happenstance
I swear a spark of surprise flashed across his eyes before he narrowed his gaze angrily on Harper. Fuck him. I hoped Riley kicked his ass. Which was apparently exactly what Riley had in mind.
She yelled, “Mason Kessler, you’re a dead man!” and took off across the grass with so much speed and fury that I thought she should be the one to try out for the track team.
Mason wasn’t an idiot, he slid through the door and slipped inside before she could reach him.
“What was that all about?” Mr. Lannister said as we all watched Riley follow.
“I have no idea.”
And I really didn’t. But I couldn’t think about that right now. Parker was coming my way, and he did not look happy.
“Come on, Angel,” he said, shooting Mr. Lannister a glare. “Time to go.”
Mr. Lannister flattened his palms on the grass behind him and leaned back, while Shelby argued, “We still have fifteen minutes.”
Parker completely ignored her. Didn’t say a word, or even look at Shelby, as he typed something into his phone. A minute later the door to the school flew open and Logan came bursting out, dripping wet, with only pants on.
“Oh crap,” Shelby muttered and sprang up, rushing over to him.
“Time to go,” Parker repeated.
I looked over at the murderous snarl on Logan’s face as Shelby fought to hold him back, and then back at Parker’s cocked brow.Yup, definitely time to go.
I swallowed and pulled Harper up with me, saying, “Bye, Mr. Lannister,” as I headed for the school.
“See you around, Lana,” he sang back.
Parker grabbed my elbow and muttered, “No, you fucking won’t.”
Chapter 13
Lana
Iblew out a puff of air at the building I could see through the windshield. The hair on the troll dolls on my dash danced around in the breeze. I watched the different colors sway back and forth, as if my precious dolls were as confused as I was. Parker had set up an appointment with Dr. Creswell, who was the best doctor in town. And Silas’s dad.
Hence, my conundrum. I’d get top of the line medical care, but at what cost? If Louis Kessler was in the Order, then so was Martin. And what did that mean for me? Would I be able to voice my opinion, or would Parker have final say?
It wasn’t like I had any solid evidence to go on, but I was pretty sure that’s how things worked. The men ran the show. I mean, I’d never heard of a girl in the Order. Ava Whitley didn’t walk around school with a title. Other than crazy, that is. Naomi was just bitch. Some people called her cunt, and Riley called her Barbie. They all fit. Was there a bitch, cunt, Barbie? Maybe I should email the Barbie people. Heck, I even had the perfect model for them.
My phone went off. It was Parker again, telling me he was almost here.
I patted Gavin, my favorite doll. Gramps gave him to me. Every time I saw his green hair and cute little freckles, I felt better. Comfort was something I was in dire need of right now. Everyone’s strange behavior this afternoon had me on edge. Parker’s fingers dug into my arm as he steered me into the school. Don’t know what his problem was. I was just having lunch with my friends when he came barreling in like a bull in a china shop.
And now I was here. Parked outside doctor Creswell’s office, missing the free clinic.
Well, no time like the present.
Begrudgingly, I got out of the car and headed into the building, which was not at all what I expected. I thought it would be another boring white walled interior, with a single lonely plant in the corner. There was a plant in the corner. Along with two by the door, three around the security desk, and a small garden next to a fountain. Naturally, there was a fountain. What office building didn’t have a fountain? Then again, what did I know? My usual doctor had a small space above a hair salon downtown. It was the only one Nan could find that directly billed the insurance company.
I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor. As the doors closed, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was why rich people always looked so good? If their doctor put this much effort into his building, I could just imagine what kind of effort he put into his patients. Maybe they did have miracle trust cream? Or some super secret anti-aging formula that was made from goat placenta or something.
Wash the years off your face with goat spread.
Even the elevator mocked my simple clothes. Some classic song played overhead as the girl in the shiny mirrored wall stared at me judgingly. Pointing out all my imperfections.Those jeans have a hole in the knee. The mess in your bun isn’t right. Did you forget to put on makeup this morning?
I’d never been so happy to get off an elevator in my life. Until I stepped into the doctor’s office.
The prim and proper receptionist looked over her magazine at me. Her eyes wandered across my frame as her lip curled. “Do you have an appointment?”
